Gangs

Gardner, Gerald

Gerald Gardner (1884-1964) almost single-handedly revived (invented) and popularized witchcraft for the modern world. Based on his associations, experiences, extensive occultic background, studies, travels, and familiarity with magical texts (grimories) and Margaret Murray's works, he "crafted" modern witchcraft.
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Gary, Jay

Proponent of Kingdom Now theology. His book, "The Star of 2000," was the subject of a very positive review in "New Man," the magazine of the Promise Keepers. In the book, Gary sets a deadline of 2000 for the rising up of an army of "god-men" (see Joel's Army)

Geisler, Norman

Gemeente Gods, De

Dutch cult, disbanded after its leaders were arrested on charges of child sexual abuse and rape.

Founder: Sipke Vrieswijk. Co-leader: his girlfriend, Aagje F.

Vrieswijk claimed to be a prophet - one of the two prophets of Revelation 11. His cult kept members away from friends and family. Practices included sexual abuse and sexual orgies, sometimes under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Members were told that if they left De Gemeente Gods they were lost.

A court in Arnhem, Holland, has sentenced ex-cult leader S. Vrieswijk (70), and his girlfriend (47) to detention and treatment in a psychiatric hospital for the sexual abuse and rape of two underage girls. The abuse took place for many years.

Vrieswijk and his girlfriend were leaders of "De Gemeente Gods" (The Church of Christ - no relation to the denomination, or the International Church of Christ cult). In court, they also admitted to sexual relations with other members of the cult, which from 1983-1993 was headquartered in a monastry in Velddriel (Holland).

In 1993, the cult leaders and several members moved to Cyprus and later to Israel, where the sexual abuse continued. The abused women were told they were the chosen brides of Christ.

The two leaders insist they are not guilty because, they claim, they acted on the will of God.

Gifts, Spiritual

Some people, cessationists, believe these gifts have ceased. Many of those who believe these gifts are still available today overemphasize them, with some even claiming - falsely - that their presence or absence determines whether or not a person is saved.

I believe these gifts are still available today, though not to the extend suggested by many Charismatic Christians. In short: the ministries, effects, and manifestations are distributed by the Holy Spirit "just as He determines." God can, at any time, for any reason, give any of His gifts to any person, for any purpose. Sadly, though, much of what certain churches, movements and individual Christians present as "charismatic gifts and manifestations" does not originate with God, and consequently does not pass Scriptural tests.

Goddess

Most witches experience, believe in, invoke, or worship the Mother or "triple Goddess" and her male consort, the Horned God. Both are believed to be immanent deities accessible to humanity.

The Mother Goddess -- whose three primary roles are mother, maiden, and crone -- is represented by and associated with the moon and its three phases: waxing, full, and waning. She is invoked by a variety of names: Aphrodite, Artemis, Astaroth, Astarte, Athene, Brigit, Ceres, Cerridwen, Cybele, Diana, Demeter, Friga, Gaia, Hecate, Isis, Kali, Kore, Lilith, Luna, Persephone, Venus, and more. She is believed to be eternal.

Goddess Movement

The goddess is embraced by witchcraft, feminism, the occult, and the liberal church. The New Age that is about to dawn upon us will be, according to the occult world, a feminine age. Likewise, those who hold this view believe that this current, masculine age has been an age of destruction and broken relationships among humanity. The New Age with its feminine energies will bring balance to the destructive aspects of the Piscean Age.

Rosemary Radford Ruether in her book, Womanguides: Readings Toward A Feminist Theology, states "It is to the women that we look for salvation in the healing and restorative waters of Aquarius. It is to such a New Age that we look now with hope as the present age of masculism succeeds in destroying itself." According to Starhawk, a feminist and practicing witch, "the symbolism of the Goddess is not a parallel structure to the symbolism of God the Father. The Goddess does not rule the world; She is the world."

While goddess followers are generally resurrecting a female-centered form of pagan worship, the oft-used term "goddess movement" is something of a misnomer. Its adherents aren't organized. There is no one way to commune with the goddess, no coherent doctrine to which everyone
subscribes; rather, there's a smorgasbord of beliefs and rituals from which worshipers can pick and choose.

For some women--and fewer men who are sympathetic to them--goddess worship represents an offshoot of feminism, an attempt to apply women's rights to spiritual life. For some, it offers purpose behind the practice of witchcraft, or Wicca (Old English for witch ), a form of nature worship that has long been popular in alternative circles.

Note: unlike the publisher of Apologetics Index, Alan Gomes does not believe in the existence of cultic mind-control techniques. Instead, Gomes believes "cults must be defined theologically, not behaviorally." Coming from an evangelical Christian perspective, in "Unmasking the Cults," he writes:

We must first determine if a group is cultic by examining its theology, and then we can examine its behavior to see how its beliefs ''cash out'' in practical life.

Gott, Ken and Lois

Grace Ministries

Kansas City, Kansas. Organization started by Mike Bickle (Kansas City Fellowship)
Not to be confused with Grace Ministries International (formerly Grace Fellowship Atlanta), a discipleship training ministry.

"Grace Ministries is a parachurch organization that represents several men who engage in itinerant, allegedly prophetic, ministries...There are seven major facets to Grace Ministries: 1. Apostolic teams; 2. City churches; 3. The House of Prayer; 4. The Joseph Company; 5. The Israel Mandate; 6. A Ministry training center; 7. Shiloh Ministries."

From its earliest days the group attracted controversy due to its member's adoring emphasis on Stevens and his claim of a unique relationship with Christ. Many stories abound of members rejecting family and loved ones to join the sect.

In 1983 Christian Research Journal published a report on the sect which stated that the group's doctrine of pastoral authority was authoritarian, unbiblical, and abusive.

Great White Brotherhood

Grimoire

The Groen Van Prinsterer Institute for History follows the method of Dutch thinker Guillaume Groen Van Prinsterer (1801-1876). Recognizing the two major philosophical explanations in modern times as either an Enlightenment humanism or a Reformation base, this center collects numerous essays on a widerange of historical subjects.

This institute is part of CAPO

Groothuis, Douglas

Douglas Groothuis is associate professor of philosophy of religion and ethics at Denver Seminary. His books include Unmasking the New Age and Confronting the New Age.

Controversial, for-profit "parenting ministry" with cultic characteristics. Headed by Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo, it promotes a foolish approach to childcare, which the Ezzos wrongly insists is based on Scripture.

Guided Imagery

Guided Visualization

Guru

A spiritual teacher. The term means "to lift up."

We came to two major conclusions from our studies:

Practically speaking, the gury phenomemon comprises a revival of occult practice and philosophy. We repeatedly encountered themes of shamanism, spiritism, psychic development, modified aspects of witchcraft practice, and other forms of paganism. Such methods do not lead to an alleged spiritual "enlightenment," but rather to harmful spiritual states, including the distinct possibility of mental illness or demon possession. Thus, the gurus are not divine incarnations as they claim, but spiritually possessed occultists whose philosophical and occult teachings are consequential for human society and welfare.

Theologically, the gurus are an anti-Christian force; their religious instruction is not in harmony with biblical or Christian teaching, as claimed, but actively opposes it.